LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - JANUARY 10: Malachi Moreno #24 of the Kentucky Wildcats looks up during the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Rupp Arena on January 10, 2026 in Lexington, Kentucky (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s looking more and more like Kentucky Basketball freshman Malachi Moreno could remain in the 2026 NBA Draft.
On Monday, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reported that Moreno will not take part in this week’s NBA Combine 5-on-5 scrimmages. That’s usually a sign that a player likes where his NBA stock is and doesn’t want to risk damaging it in scrimmages.
In addition, O’Connor now says there’s a “pretty strong chance” Moreno would be drafted in the first round this year.
Between this development and the surprise addition of Washington center Franck Kepnang, it’s safe to think there’s now a very real chance Moreno is staying in the draft, which would be a brutal development for Mark Pope and his rebuilt roster, which was banking heavily on the Great Crossing product manning the 5 spot.
While Kepnang is a suitable big man when healthy, he’s missed far too many games in his college career to count on him staying healthy for the duration of next season.
In other words, if Moreno stays in the draft, then Kentucky will be in desperate need of another big man, and there aren’t exactly many good options available at this point.
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 09: Byron Buxton #25 of the Minnesota Twins hits a solo home run in the first inning during the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Saturday, May 9, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Leigh Bacho/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Twins had a 3-3 week, dropping two to the Nats, taking two from the Guardians, and currently sit last in the AL Central with an 18-23 record. First, the good news: after a slow start to the season, Byron Buxton is back to being a menace at the plate. Since April 13, Buxton has hit 13 homers, with 21 runs and 20 RBI, slashing .299/.342/.701. The bad news: the bullpen has been a revolving door of pitchers, and ranks second-to-last in the league in ERA (6.05), second-to-last in strikeout rate (17.9%), and second-to-last in WHIP (1.61). But more good news: the bullpen didn’t completely suck against the Guardians. Eric Orze picked up the save on Saturday, and new Twin Yoendrys Gómez got the save on Sunday. But more bad news: Taj Bradley has now hit the 15-day IL with pec inflammation. So y’know, a very normal Twins week. The Twins now have a nine-game homestand against the Marlins (19-22), Brewers (22-16), and Astros (16-25).
The Past Week on Twinkie Town:
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Aaron Gleeman, formerly of The Athletic, has announced his departure from the news organization and is starting a new independent site to cover the Twins.
We have a new leader in the American League, with the Rays having two fewer losses than the Yankees (in two fewer games). These two teams have slowly pulled away, as there’s a 4.5-game gap to the next best team, the A’s.
Atlanta has a 1.0-game gap over the Cubs, and then the Dodgers, Padres, Brewers, and Cardinals are all within 3.5 games of the Cubs.
Bobby Witt Jr. had a slow start to the season, not hitting his first homer until April 26th. However, on Saturday, Witt hit an inside-the-park homer on a grounder for his fifth of the season.
There’s been plenty of reporting and discourse around Antetokounmpo’s future over the last several weeks, culminating with Charania’s latest insights. So here’s a breakdown of when a deal might be consummated (if it happens), which teams could be involved and what it all means for the Celtics.
“I just think before the draft is a natural time,” Haslam said. “Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, we’ve got to have a lot of assets.”
Blockbuster trades rarely happen until after the NBA Finals, as clubs typically want the option of negotiating with every other team for leverage purposes. This year’s finals could end as early as June 10 (Game 4) and as late as June 19 (Game 7).
So, if a Giannis trade goes down, it will likely be sometime between June 10 and June 23.
Which teams could be involved in Giannis trade discussions?
Charania noted the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat are both expected to pursue Antetokounmpo this offseason.
Charania also added that playoff teams such as the Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers all had interest in Antetokounmpo ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline in February, and that how those teams finish in this year’s playoffs “will play a major factor in their aggressiveness to trade for Antetokounmpo.”
Boston, of course, is the only team on that list that lost in the first round. So, perhaps that means Brad Stevens and Co. are more aggressive in their pursuit of Antetokounmpo this summer.
Another wrinkle: Antetokounmpo reportedly wants to sign an extension with his future team and may have some leverage in choosing his desired destination.
“The conversation will be simple: Where does [Giannis] want to be moved and where will he sign long term?” a source told Charania.
Will the Celtics be a legitimate suitor for Giannis?
It certainly appears that way.
Antetokounmpo clearly has respect for the Celtics and recently praised their ability to maintain success this past season despite losing several key members of their rotation in the offseason.
“Everything about my decision is based on winning; culture,” Antetokounmpo told Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel in April. “Like, you saw I talked with [Boston] coach Joe Mazzulla. I said, ‘You had so many opportunities to make excuses, but you didn’t.'”
The Celtics also have a need for a player like Antetokounmpo. In his end-of-season press conference, Stevens expressed a desire to have “more of an impact at the rim,” and Giannis fits that mold on both ends as a former Defensive Player of the Year who leads the NBA in dunks per game over the past two seasons.
Any Celtics trade for Antetokounmpo likely would involve dealing Jaylen Brown, which would be a monumental move that the franchise would have to weigh carefully. But at the very least, it seems like Stevens and Co. are leaving all options on the table after a premature playoff exit.
DENVER, CO - MAY 04: Carson Benge #3 of the New York Mets celebrates in the dugout with Freddy Peralta #51 after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning during the game between the New York Mets and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Monday, May 4, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
MONDAY
Carson Benge’s 436-foot homer off Tomoyuki Sugano is the Mets’ longest homer of the season thus far.
The Mets only recorded four hits at Coors Field in their win. It was just the Mets’ third nine-inning game at Coors Field in which they’ve mustered four hits or fewer, with the other two both coming in 2008.
WEDNESDAY
The Mets saw six different players record multi-hit performances for the first time since September 2, 2025 in Detroit. Brett Baty is the only player who contributed multiple hits to both games, and only one of the other players with multiple hits on Wednesday (Francisco Alvarez) was on the 2025 Mets at all.
Marcus Semien recorded 4 hits including a home run, becoming the first Mets second baseman to do so since Javier Báez in Washington on September 5, 2021.
Freddy Peralta became the ninth Met to put up a scoreless start of at least five innings at Coors Field. Only one Met, Mike Pelfrey, did it twice (June 22, 2008 and April 15, 2010).
The Mets won their seventh consecutive game at Coors Field, a streak dating back to August 7, 2024. The Mets have also won six of their last seven series at Coors Field, dating back to 2019.
The Mets scored 10+ runs on 15+ hits at Coors Field for the fifth time since 2015. That’s tied for the most such games the Mets have had at any road ballpark in that span, matching their total at Citizens Bank Park and Truist Field.
THURSDAY
Christian Scott generated eight whiffs on his four-seam fastball, tying a pair of Freddy Peralta outings for the most whiffs via four-seam fastball by a Met in a game this season.
The Mets surrendered their fourth grand slam of the season when Jake McCarthy took Craig Kimbrel deep. That’s the most any MLB team has allowed so far this season.
It was also the third grand slam the Mets have given up in the eighth inning this season. Since 1969, only one MLB team has given up more eighth-inning grand slams in a single season: the 2024 Mets, who gave up 4. In the past three seasons, the Mets have now given up a fitting total of eight eighth-inning grand slams. No other MLB team has allowed more than three in that span.
FRIDAY
THE WEEKLY MCLEAN UPDATE: Nolan McLean now has a 2.41 ERA and 114 strikeouts through his first 16 career games. The only other pitchers with that low an ERA and that many strikeouts through their first 16 games are: Hideo Nomo (2.10 ERA, 139 K), Matt Harvey (2.26 ERA, 116 K), Masahiro Tanaka (2.10 ERA, 127 K), and Paul Skenes (2.30 ERA, 121 K).
The Mets played their seventh extra-inning game of the season. The Pirates (7) are the only other team to have played that many extra-inning games this year.
The Mets won their seventh straight series opener at Chase Field, a streak dating back to May 31, 2019.
SATURDAY
Clay Holmes allowed two runs or fewer for the eighth straight start this year, overtaking Nolan Ryan (7 starts in 1971) and Johan Santana (7 starts in 2009) for the most consecutive starts allowing two runs or fewer to begin a season in Mets history. (source: MLB.com)
The Mets lost while hitting four balls with an exit velocity of 105 mph or higher for outs. This was their second loss of the season in which they hit four balls for outs at 105+ mph, and no other National League team has more than one such loss.
SUNDAY
Since April 23, Carson Benge has 15 hits, a .352 OBP, and a .500 SLG. All 3 of those marks lead the Mets’ offense during that span.
Eduardo Rodríguez racked up his second start of at least six innings pitched without allowing more than one run against the Metsthis season. The only player to have multiple starts of that variety against the Mets in 2025 was Rodríguez’s teammate, Zac Gallen.
The Mets recorded five hits or fewer for the 13th time this season, tying them with the Reds for the most such games in 2026. The 1963 Mets are the only team in franchise history with more games of five hits or fewer (14) through their first 40 games of a season.
The Mets scored two runs or fewer through nine innings for the 21st time this season, leading MLB in 2026 and tying an unfortunate franchise mark set by the 1967 Mets for the most such performances through 40 games of a season.
Miscellaneous Mets stat of the week: The last Mets player to steal three bases in a game was Juan Lagares, who did so on September 7, 2014 in Cincinnati. Four of the first six batters in the Reds’ lineup that day would go on to play for the Mets in the following six seasons: Billy Hamilton, Todd Frazier, Devin Mesoraco, and Jay Bruce.
No Met has stolen three bases in a game yet at Citi Field. But Jon Berti has done it on three separate occasions.
After Green’s comment was widely labelled as disrespectful towards Barkley, he provided clarification on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” denying that he meant any disrespect.
“Don’t lie and don’t put words in my mouth,” Green said. “If you want words, I always give you the words out of my mouth. [At] no point did I say, ‘Oh man, I’m better than Charles Barkley.’ Stop it. Again, to try to build it as disrespect. There’s no disrespect from me to Charles Barkley. That’s just not how I roll.”
Draymond provides clarity Charles Barkley interaction
“The reason that I would even say that is what Chuck makes fun about in his career is actually the last 2 years in Houston… everybody tried to make it like this whole 'Ahh man Draymond think he better than Chuck'… the… pic.twitter.com/lXrTY7Umk9
— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) May 9, 2026
Green explained that he admires Barkley’s career and meant no disrespect towards his accomplishments and skill.
“We’re not on the same level. Yeah, I’m not an NBA MVP. I’m not at all,” Green said. “But I hope to walk in the Hall of Fame. And if I do that, if I’m lucky enough to do that, fingers crossed. Hopefully I will be. Then that would stamp us on the same level. So he’s right. I’m not there. And that’s okay. Still constructing. Still working at it. Still trying to get there.”
Green also explained that, in the context of the show, the analysts take jabs at each other and current NBA stars. He notes that Barkley has frequently criticized stars like Steph Curry or LeBron James, despite their careers, on paper, being better than Barkley’s.
“It’s a very interesting concept because some of Chuck’s funniest things that’s made him the media personality he is , is kind of him taking digs at people,” Green said. “Some of the best moments on the show is him taking a dig at Kenny, or him taking a dig at Shaq…
“…That’s what makes that show great. And so, I find it very interesting when people say [I] can’t say nothing about Chuck because [I don’t] have a better career…”
In saying that he did not intend any personal disrespect towards Barkley, he apologized for the public’s perception of his comments being disrespectful.
“I am also a man of accountability, and in telling a joke — the way it was received — I don’t think it should have been received that way, but it was …” Green said. “If it’s received the way I see it being received, I am not too big to say — if that was viewed as disrespect publicly, I can say sorry publicly.”
In the end, it doesn’t seem that Barkley took much disrespect from the comment, and Green added that the two have a great working relationship on the show and that there is no tension.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ struggling offense will get a spark this week as the rival San Francisco Giants come to town.
Mookie Betts, who has been out since April 4 with a strained oblique, is scheduled to come off the injured list and be in the No. 2 or 3 spot in the lineup.
My Giants vs Dodgers predictions and MLB picks have the Dodgers getting a home win with Mookie back in the fold on Monday, May 11.
Who will win Giants vs Dodgers today: Dodgers moneyline (-177)
Shohei Ohtani is hitting .241, had more strikeouts (four) than hits (two) in the last series, and has one homer in the last 22 games. The top half of the lineup has struggled, and Betts allows everyone to return to their usual spot in the order.
The San Francisco Giants took two of three from L.A. last month but are 5-10 since. They traded MLB’s top defensive catcher in what looks like a restart. The lineup has scored fewer than two runs four times in the last nine games.
Giants vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (+100)
In addition to Betts’ return, the Dodgers’ offense will get a boost from playing the fourth-place Giants.
They’ll face Giants rookie starter Trevor McDonald, making just his sixth major-league start. He relies heavily on a slider, which plays into the Dodgers' hands. Freeman, Ohtani, and Teoscar Hernandez all have a hard-hit rate over 60% against that pitch.
The Dodgers start Roki Sasaki, who has struggled with control (27th percentile walk rate) and hard contact (12th percentile in barrel rate and 23rd in hard-hit rate) this year. The Giants scored 15 runs in the last three games and are getting hot just as they face the struggling Sasaki.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 12-13, -0.26 units
Over/Under bets: 14-15, -1.83 units
Giants vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Giants +163 | Dodgers -170
Run line: Giants +1.5 (-140) | Dodgers -1.5 (+115)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+100) | Under 9.5 (-120)
Giants vs Dodgers trend
The San Francisco Giants have only hit the Moneyline in 8 of their last 25 away games (-9.05 Units / -34% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Giants vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Giants vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Monday, May 11, 2026
First pitch
10:10 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports Bay Area, SportsNet LA
Giants starting pitcher
Trevor McDonald (1-1, 1.29 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Roki Sasaki (1-3, 5.97 ERA)
Giants vs Dodgers latest injuries
Giants vs Dodgers weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Apr 29, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Eric Lauer (56) pitches to the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Yariel Rodriguez will be with the team for tonight’s game. The team had an open spot on the 40-man roster, but there is no word on how they will free up a spot on the active roster. Rodriguez has thrown 13.2 innings, with 9 walks, 25 strikeouts and 7 hits, with a 2.63 ERA.
I’m guessing that Eric Lauer will either go on the IL (he is throwing a couple of miles per hour lower than last year, the excuse might be to find out if there is a physical reason for that) or they DFA him and put him on waivers. If a team picked him up, they would owe him about $3.1 million, which isn’t all that much for a guy who had a 3.18 ERA last year. Or other teams could wait to see if he elects free agency after the waiver period.
Batters are hitting .264/.335/.542 against him. He’s handed out 16 walks in 36.1 innings, when he had just 26 in 104.2 innings last year. And he leads baseball with 11 home runs allowed.
Of course I’m guessing at stuff. Giving up on a guy, who was very good last year, on just 36 innings is not a great way to do business. But Lauer has had an up and down career. The unfortunate thing for Lauer is that last year he was throwing just hard enough to keep batters honest. When you lose a little from ‘just hard enough’, bad things happened. We saw that a few years ago with Marco Estrada. He never threw upper 90s but when he went from lower 90s to upper 80s, he wasn’t quite the same guy.
But without Lauer, they’d need someone in five days.
Spencer Miles could be used in that spot. He three innings yesterday and likely could go a bit more next time out. And Yariel Rodriguez can do more than one inning, he’s done two or more a couple of times in Buffalo.
Of course it is possible it isn’t Lauer who’s coming off the roster.
I totally reject the idea that Lauer’s problems are because of them bouncing him back and forth between bulk man and starter. He’s not throwing softer because he’s changing roles (or if he is, it is a lousy way of showing he should be a full time starter).
And I’m not buying the ‘he’s sulking because of the opener thing’. He was asked if he likes the opener thing, and he answered honestly. I bet if you asked every starting pitcher in the league….well…..most of them wouldn’t actually answer, because if you answer people will twist it. Fans complain about players give stock answers to questions, but when someone gives a real answer they read more into it than just an answer to a question. No starting pitcher wants to go to the bulk man role. But then, if they want out of that role, PITCH BETTER.
I also dislike reading body language. Players can’t win that game. If a player smiles and is happy, while struggling, we complain (Jerry Howarth ran Jose Reyes for being his usual happy self, even though he wasn’t playing well). If they look serious, they are sulking. The players can’t win.
Addison Barger is off to get an MRI on his right elbow. To me, it is very likely a direct line from this (one amazing throw):
A UCL tear (requiring TJ) usually presents with one or more of the following: · A sharp, sudden pain during the throw · A “pop,” “zing,” or electric shock” sensation · Immediate loss of velocity · Immediate loss of command · Inability to continue throwing · Instability rather… pic.twitter.com/MAqgCZ73ay
Now I don’t know if any of that is true. I don’t know how Addison felt right after the throw. I don’t know if there was immediate pain or anything. I do know that someone twittered that Addison grimaced in the dugout when he was high-fiving after the throw. I don’t know that he had another throw in from right that game.
Hopefully it is just soreness. I think we’ve all thrown a ball a little too hard and then had pain after. But Barger likely knows the difference between a little soreness and something that needs an MRI. They say he woke up with ‘limited range of motion’ in the arm. That doesn’t sound good.
I don’t want him to be out another month.
It would be nice if there was something fun to write about.
NAGASAKI, JAPAN - APRIL 22: A freshly poured pint of Guinness stout settles on the drip tray of a draught tap at the Irish Pub Nagasaki in Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, on April 22, 2026. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
2026 MLB Draft: Baseball America has released their latest mock draft — V.3.0 if you’re keeping track at home — and they have the Texas Rangers, at #16, selecting righthanded pitcher Cameron Flukey out of Coastal Carolina.
Flukey is not someone who, coming into the season, would generally have been seen up to this point as being available when the Rangers pick. BA currently has him at #7 on their draft board, while MLB Pipeline slots him at #13. However, Flukey was sidelined earlier this year with a rib issue (BA says rib strain, MLB Pipeline says rib stress fracture), and has struggled in the few outings he has had since his return.
Interestingly, Keith Law has the Rangers taking University of Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron in his latest mock draft, which came out last week, but also mentions Flukey as a possibility for Texas at #16, ultimately mocking Flukey to the Astros at #17 (and marveling that Flukey might drop that far).
Jim Callis, in his mock draft that dropped on Friday, also has the Rangers taking Lebron at #16. Lebron profiles as a toolsy, true shortstop with four potential plus tools, and is currently #5 on the MLB Pipeline board. However, there are real questions about Lebron’s hit tool, and he’s slashing just .266/.386/.516 this seasonl albeit with an impressive 36 stolen bases in 37 attempts.
The Rangers have gotten away from the tool sheds with questionable hit tools in recent years, so Lebron would be a bit of a surprise. College pitchers with injury issues, though, have been the Rangers’ jam of late. Flukey is a guy with a four pitch mix and a quality fastball that he throws for strikes, and could move quickly. If he drops because of the rib injury, he would seem to be a fit with the Rangers at #16.
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And now we wait.
On Sunday, May 11, the New York Knicks completed their stomping sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season.
This time around, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and co. will face either Cade Cunningham’s No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons or Donovan Mitchell’s feisty Cleveland Cavaliers.
If you’d like to see Mike Brown’s red-hot club at the Garden, tickets are already available for all four hypothetical (if the Cavs win, the NYK will have home-court advantage) games in the Big Apple.
At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on potential Knicks Madison Square Garden Eastern Conference Finals game tickets was $642 including fees on SeatGeek.
Other MSG games start between $651 and $1,200 including fees.
While pricey, Knicks fever is at an all-time high following the teams’ defiant statement wins over the Hawks and Sixers in the first two rounds.
“The Knicks’ wins on and off the court were a gift to fans who finally saw their faith rewarded,” The Post reported following Mike Brown’s squad’s statement game four victory.
“…[they’re] moving on after a game and a series in which they left zero doubt about the better team. The Knicks swept the 76ers by a cumulative total of 497-408 — that’s about a 22-point difference per game — in a matchup that technically was the East’s No. 3 vs. No. 7 but felt like varsity against freshmen.”
Now, in order to ensure they keep that momentum going and move onto the NBA Finals for the first time since the 1998-99 campaign, Brunson and Knicks will need all the help they can get from the fans.
Spike Lee will be there. Timotheé Chalamet will be there. Ben Stiller will be there. Tracy Morgan will be there. Will you?
For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about seeing the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals below.
New York Knicks playoff home game tickets
A complete calendar, including all potential Knicks Eastern Conference Semifinals home game and the best prices on tickets can be found here:
Knicks home games
Ticket prices start at
Game 1
$642(including fees)
Game 2
$651(including fees)
Game 3 (if necessary)
$950(including fees)
Game 4 (if necessary)
$1,200(including fees)
New York Knicks 2026 NBA Finals tickets
Want to get ahead of the curve?
You can (prematurely) snag NBA Final tickets below.
Knicks Finals home games
Ticket prices start at
Game 1
$3,177(including fees)
Game 2
$3,193(including fees)
Game 3 (if necessary)
$4,316(including fees)
Game 4 (if necessary)
$4,665(including fees)
2026 NBA playoff schedule
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This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
Seven years ago today, the Winnipeg Jets did something no version of the franchise had ever done, they punched their ticket to the Western Conference Final, and they did it the hard way.
During the 2017-18 season, the Jets finished with 114 points, the second-best record in the NHL and the best-ever finish for any Winnipeg-based NHL team up until their recent President's trophy win. Led by head coach Paul Maurice, that Jets team was widely regarded as one of the most complete in franchise history.
They had standout players at every position like a balanced attack with captain Blake Wheeler, star center Mark Scheifele, and electrifying winger Patrik Laine, with veteran leadership from Dustin Byfuglien and Bryan Little, and a rock solid blue line anchored by Jacob Trouba and emerging young talent Josh Morrissey.
It was the breakout season for Connor Hellebuyck, who quickly established himself as not only a true number-one goaltender but one of the very best in league history.
Earlier in the playoff run, the Jets won their first playoff game in franchise history, defeating the Minnesota Wild 3-2 to end an eight-game playoff losing streak. They never looked back as they would go on to claim the series, defeating the Wild in five games, with Hellebuyck closing the series out in dominant fashion with back-to-back shutouts to finish off the Wild.
What came next was one of the most compelling second-round matchups in recent memory as they went against the President's trophy winning Nashville Predators with the two teams combining for 231 points in the regular season. It was one of the highest-combined-point series ever played before a conference final.
The Jets won Game 1 handily, with Scheifele scoring a goal and Hellebuyck making 47 saves in a 4-1 victory. Nashville answered back, but the series truly turned in Game 3. The Jets roared back from an early 3-0 deficit to defeat the Predators 7-4, with Blake Wheeler scoring the go-ahead goal on the power play late in the game to grab a 2-1 series lead. Kyle Connor scored twice and Wheeler provided three assists in a 6-2 Game 5 victory before Nashville forced a Game 7 with a 4-0 shutout in Game 6.
Game 7 in Nashville belonged entirely to the Jets with Paul Stastny scoring a pair goals along with an assist with Scheifele also scoring twice, and Hellebuyck making 36 saves in a 5-1 road win. Pekka Rinne, Nashville's Vezina finalist, was chased from the net for the third time in the series, lasting just 10 minutes and seven seconds, the quickest exit by a starting goalie in a Game 7.
Scheifele's performance across the seven games was historic with seven road goals in the series, the most in a single series in NHL history, surpassing a record he had shared with Sidney Crosby, Bill Barber, and Gilbert Perreault.
Waiting in the Western Conference Final was a Vegas Golden Knights team in the middle of one of the most remarkable expansion seasons the NHL had ever seen. Vegas had gone 8-2 in the playoffs entering the series, the best record through the first ten postseason games in NHL history. Both teams were making their first-ever trip to the Western Conference Final. The Golden Knights would go on to win the series in five games, becoming the first expansion team to reach the Final since the St. Louis Blues in 1968.
The Jets' run ended in the Western Conference Final but was the deepest playoff run for a Winnipeg-based team since the original Jets reached the second round in 1985 and 1987.
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The Buffalo Sabres are no longer merely trailing in this series — they are teetering on the edge of a humiliation spiral against a Montreal Canadiens team that suddenly looks faster, sharper, and psychologically overwhelming.
Buffalo entered Game 3 insisting there was no reason for apprehension after Friday’s setback, pointing to their resilience against the Boston Bruins and their strong road performances throughout the postseason. By the final horn Sunday night at the Bell Centre, however, that confidence had been thoroughly destabilized. Montreal dismantled the Sabres in virtually every consequential phase of the game, erupting for six unanswered goals after Tage Thompson opened the scoring less than a minute into the contest.
What initially appeared to be an ideal response from Buffalo rapidly devolved into another sobering demonstration of Montreal’s growing command over the series. Thompson’s early goal briefly injected life into the Sabres, but the Canadiens dictated the rhythm almost immediately afterward, forcing Buffalo into a reactive posture for much of the evening.
Alex Newhook equalized in the opening period before the Canadiens detonated offensively in the second, scoring three consecutive goals to seize complete territorial and emotional control. Buffalo attempted to manufacture momentum entering the third period after narrowing the deficit to 4-2, yet the comeback never genuinely materialized. Instead, Montreal suffocated every push, while Jakub Dobes remained composed amid late pressure before the Canadiens buried two additional goals to emphatically close the door.
Thompson Responds After Mounting Criticism
No player carried more scrutiny into Game 3 than Tage Thompson.
After a disastrous Game 2 performance riddled with turnovers, stalled possessions, and offensive invisibility, Thompson’s seven-game playoff scoring drought had become one of the defining narratives surrounding Buffalo’s unraveling offense. He answered immediately Sunday night.
Just seconds into the game, Thompson capitalized on an extraordinarily fortunate bounce after Rasmus Dahlin intentionally fired the puck wide. The rebound ricocheted violently off the end boards and landed directly on Thompson’s stick beside an unguarded net.
It was not an artistic goal, nor an especially difficult one, but it represented something Buffalo desperately required: urgency from its most dangerous scorer.
The larger issue, however, remains unresolved. Thompson’s goal ultimately functioned more as a fleeting interruption than a transformational moment. If the Sabres intend to salvage this series, they will require sustained offensive dominance from him rather than isolated flashes of redemption.
Special Teams And Faceoffs Are Quietly Destroying Buffalo
While Buffalo’s power play deserved criticism after its catastrophic 0-for-5 performance in Game 2, the penalty kill became the far more damaging liability Sunday night.
To Lindy Ruff’s credit, the Sabres adjusted their power-play structure effectively. Buffalo looked significantly more organized offensively, generating cleaner entries and superior puck movement, eventually converting on one of four opportunities when Dahlin buried a second-period power-play goal.
Unfortunately for Buffalo, nearly every other special-teams sequence tilted decisively toward Montreal.
The Canadiens converted twice on six power-play opportunities, and while some of the damage stemmed from unfortunate circumstances, the cumulative effect was devastating. On Montreal’s first power-play goal, Jordan Greenway lost his stick early in the sequence, leaving him functionally incapacitated defensively as rookie phenom Lane Hutson exploited the mismatch before setting up Cole Caufield for his first goal of the series.
The second goal exposed Buffalo’s depleted penalty-kill structure even further. With Greenway and Beck Malenstyn both serving penalties simultaneously, Montreal attacked an undermanned unit lacking its two most dependable defensive forwards. Juraj Slafkovsky redirected a shot past Alex Lyon almost immediately, further tilting the game beyond recovery.
Compounding Buffalo’s structural problems was another lopsided showing in the faceoff circle. Even with the return of Sam Carrick from injury, the Canadiens dominated possession off draws, winning more than 60 percent of faceoffs.
Carrick, acquired specifically to stabilize Buffalo’s lower lines and improve situational puck possession, won only two of his five draws. Whether attributable to rust or lingering discomfort after his lengthy absence, Buffalo’s inability to establish possession consistently off stoppages has become an increasingly corrosive issue throughout the series.
Meanwhile, Lyon deserves considerably more sympathy than the final stat line will suggest. Although he surrendered five goals on 36 shots, the veteran netminder produced a series of high-end saves early in the game that prevented Montreal from completely detonating the contest in the opening period. Nick Suzuki and Caufield repeatedly generated dangerous opportunities off the rush, only for Lyon to temporarily preserve Buffalo’s fragile lead.
Still, hockey’s postseason ecosystem is notoriously unforgiving. Lyon may not deserve primary blame for either loss, but playoff series often demand emotional recalibration more than objective fairness. Given the momentum swing occurring in Montreal’s favor, Ruff may soon have to consider whether a goaltending change could provide the psychological jolt Buffalo now appears desperate to find.
The Sabres will regroup Monday before facing what increasingly resembles a season-defining Game 4 on Tuesday night in Montreal.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 10: The Dallas Mavericks receive the ninth pick during the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, 2026 at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks entered Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery with the primary objective of moving up in the draft order for the second straight year. Their secondary objective was to at least not fall in the order. Neither objective was accomplished, as Dallas slid one spot and will be picking 9th in the Draft this June.
Throughout the season, there were instances that frustrated fans who were fully on board with the effort to tank for a better draft pick. Late in the season, aside from Cooper Flagg’s Rookie of the Year campaign, the best thing the Mavs could play for was a better draft pick.
Two primary reasons are cited for hurting the Mavs most. While accurate, there is an alternative perspective on both grievances being filed, and we’ll take a look at them here.
Specific unnecessary wins doomed the odds
A select few games continue to come up in the public lexicon as those which particularly hurt the Mavs’ chances at a better outcome in the Draft Lottery. April 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers, March 12 against the Memphis Grizzlies (more on them below) and game 82 against the Chicago Bulls.
The Lakers game came at a time the Mavericks were playing out the season and the Lakers were playing to keep hold of a top seed. Dallas took the victory in a game where both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sat out. Less than a month prior, Khris Middleton went out of his mind scoring 35 points on 8-for-10 three-point shooting in a win over the Grizzlies, with whom the Mavs were neck-and-neck with through the final stretch of the season. The Bulls game was the object lesson of who wanted to tank more. A Bulls loss would prevent them from tying the Milwaukee Bucks, while a Mavs loss would prevent them from tying the New Orleans Pelicans. Dallas ended up tied, then lost a coin flip with the Pelicans. The Bulls jumped to #4 in the Draft Lottery.
These were three (admittedly glaring) games across 26 total wins. They didn’t count more than any other win, yet we are more annoyed by them than we are about two wins against the Denver Nuggets in December, an overtime win against the 60-win Detroit Pistons, and a late-season win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland. Recency bias at its finest. That doesn’t mean early-season wins didn’t equally hurt the Mavs’ draft standing. We also often fail to think of the favorable losses (if there really is such a thing). For example, Dallas lost to the Pelicans in three of their four matchups, yet still tied them when all was said and done.
In reality, these worst-offending games are no worse than any other. They just happen to be recent or ironic enough (Middleton going All-NBA for a night?) to anger us more.
The Mavs could have moved up to #3 instead of Memphis had they ended the season tied
The Mavericks ended the season with a 26-56 record. The Grizzlies ended at 25-57. Memphis subsequently moved from their slot at #6, all the way up to #3. The #6 slot was very attainable for Dallas had they lost even a single game more, frustrating fans who feel Dallas could easily be sitting with the #3 pick next month had they simply been in the spot Memphis held coming into Sunday’s Lottery. I would contend that is not exactly the case.
Had Dallas lost one more game, they would have been in a tie with Memphis. This would have required a coin flip for the #6 slot, which they may or may not have won. Even assuming they had won, that doesn’t necessarily mean it would be them sitting at #3 right now. In other words, it wasn’t necessarily the #6 slot that moved up, but rather, it was the Grizzlies that moved up.
In the Draft Lottery, each team is designated a certain number of four-number combinations. If one of those four-number combinations is pulled, it’s that team’s lucky day. One of Memphis’ four-number combinations was pulled third, and that was that. Had Dallas been slotted in the #6 spot, it still would have been Memphis’ four-number combination that was pulled. There remains an argument that had Memphis been slotted lower than Dallas, they would have had fewer combinations and one of those combinations they didn’t have could have been the one that pulled them up to #3. Still, had they not had that magic combination, it doesn’t mean that Dallas would have had it – it could have been any other team as well.
Closing arguments
To be clear, I’m not intending to tell anyone how to think. This is as much an exercise in catharsis for me as it is (hopefully) a perspective-helper for anyone reading. I was massively disappointed to see the Mavericks name called early. It was like a game of Russian Roulette on each envelope.
Candidly, I feel like somehow Middleton should have sat a few more minutes on that turn-back-the-clock night. Maybe a couple of our better players happen to sit out the Laker game for load management. Ultimately, we can probably say something similar about any given night.
As it stands, the Mavericks still have a very good pick. On top of that, we have absolutely no idea what will transpire before the Draft, or on Draft night. Dallas could package #9, #30 and a player(s) to move up (or back). For now, we’ll just have to trust the new regime to steer things the right way.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 10: Mike Yastrzemski #18 of the Atlanta Braves walks to first base after being hit by a pitch in the ninth inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, May 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jessie Alcheh/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
When the Kansas City Royals hit the 2025/2026 offseason, they had a few items on their wish list. Generally, they were looking to shore up their outfield, which was a significant weakness for them. Specifically, they were on the hunt for three things: a right-handed bat to play against lefties, a starting left fielder, and a middle-of-the-order type bat to lengthen the lineup.
To fill the right-handed platoon bat, the Royals signed Lane Thomas on a one-year, $5 million deal. Kansas City traded for Isaac Collins to fill the left field spot. And the middle-of-the-order bat never materialized, as the Royals didn’t find a player in free agency or a trading partner that they were comfortable with.
Should the Royals have done more? That was one of the questions us Royals Review staff discussed in the very first roundtable of the year. Fortunately, though, we can take a look at what some of the players with whom the Royals were linked in the offseason and see what they have been up to. And the results are…mostly underwhelming.
This list of players includes a variety of free agents in the Royals’ price range as well as the players the Royals were rumored to be targeting in a trade:
Name
Team
Acquired
PA
wRC+
WAR
Taylor Ward
BAL
Traded for Grayson Rodriguez
179
138
0.9
Brendan Donovan
SEA
Traded for Tai Peete, Jurrangelo Cijntje, Ben Williamson, 68th pick in 2026 draft
76
165
0.6
Adolis García
PHI
1-year, $10 million contract
159
96
0.5
Adam Frazier
LAA
1-year, $1.75 million contract
70
104
0.2
Jarren Duran
BOS
N/A (was trade target)
145
58
0.1
Jorge Polanco
NYM
2-year, $40 million contract
61
53
-0.3
Mike Yastrzemski
ATL
2-year, $23 million contract
124
45
-0.3
Cedric Mullins
TBR
1-year, $7 million contract
124
18
-0.8
Harrison Bader
SFG
2-year, $20.5 million contract
55
-10
-0.6
Austin Hays
CWS
1-year, $6 million contract
44
50
-0.4
Ha-Seong Kim
ATL
1-year, $20 million
0
0
0
There is one clear winner in this list: Ward, who has been both very good and healthy for the Baltimore Orioles. Two more players are also clear success stories: Garcia, who has been perfectly serviceable on his one-year deal, and Frazier, who is darn near playing at the league minimum but hitting well and generally doing his thing.
Outside those three players, though, there’s a lot to cringe at. Donovan has been good when healthy, but he’s already missed three weeks with an injury this year. Kim hasn’t played at all yet after a freak injury in Korea. Bader and Hays have also been hurt, and they’ve been bad when they’ve played. Yastrzemski and Mullins have simply been bad.
The year isn’t yet done, and it’s only May. There’s plenty of time for this group of players to succeed. Still, you acquire free agents or make trades to impact your club quickly—if teams didn’t need that, they could simply wait until the trade deadline. And the group of players in the Royals’ price range have been largely disappointing.
Kansas City’s offseason wasn’t perfect. Giving $8 million to Jonathan India was eyebrow-raising at the time, and his season-ending shoulder injury makes that more frustrating. And was Lane Thomas worth $5 million? He hasn’t been as bad as many others who got more years and dollars, so that’s a win at least.
But the Royals don’t do their offseason in a vacuum; they have to acquire real players with real money or talent, and have to do so with what’s available. And for the second consecutive offseason, it looks like Kansas City’s reluctance to make splurge on a big free agent or trade acquisition has been smart.
Former Nationals southpaw Mackenzie Gore certainly hasn’t gotten off to the greatest start in Texas. The 27-year-old who was long considered the future of the Washington rotation was dealt to the Rangers during the 2026 offseason, and the next step that so many analysts and fans believed he could take simply hasn’t come. He has a 5.18 ERA through 40.0 innings, with a concerningly high walk rate and consistent struggles effectively working deeper into games.
Infielder Gavin Fien, the Rangers 1st-round selection in the 2025 draft, was seen as the central piece in the return for Gore, and he remains firmly in the organization’s Top-5 prospect rankings. However, he might not be the prospect that could yield the greatest results.
20-year-old shortstop Devin Fitz-Gerald, a main part, but not the headliner in the deal, has been a man on a mission through the first part of the 2026 season. Starting the year with the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks, he’s been an absolute nightmare for pitchers to face.
Devin Fitz-Gerald (WSH) has looked like a consensus T-100 prospect to start the season. The 20-year-old is 1 of 2 prospects to have a wRC+ over 170, 10+ SB, and a K% below 20%. He is 4 years and 13 days younger than the other player on that list. Also running a plus 79.7% Con%. pic.twitter.com/DNsyNbNgzo
— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) May 9, 2026
The counting numbers fly off the page, with a slash line of .310/.439/.593 through 113 at-bats, including a 15-for-42 stretch with 4 HR and 10 XBH in the last 14 days. What’s even more impressive is how he’s doing it. A shoulder injury prematurely ended his 2025 campaign with the Single-A Hickory Crawdads, and there were legitimate concerns about how his power tool would rebound moving forward. With almost a 30-game sample size under his belt so far in his return to action, those questions have been silenced.
Looking at Fitz-Gerald’s profile, it’s difficult to find even the smallest weakness in his 2026 performance to this point. He’s hitting the ball hard, he’s beginning to elevate with intent, and boasts equally impressive walk and strikeout rates, both sitting at 15.7%. Everything about his start screams sustainability, and his bat-to-ball skills have looked as good as any prospect in the minors.
Devin Fitz-Gerald (WSH) is on fire!
He has a 1.032 OPS on the season while walking as often as he strikes out. He has one of the most advanced hit tools in the lower minors and his power is starting to return after undergoing shoulder surgery last yearpic.twitter.com/lz5f3RxHMT
Fellow shortstop Ronny Cruz’s exponential rise into MLB Pipeline’s Top-100, preceded by a promotion to Wilmington just a few short weeks ago, has infused an impressive amount of talent into Washington’s lower MiLB levels. With 6 prospects now on the list, and no signs of the switch-hitting Fitz-Gerald slowing down any time soon, his insertion onto the national rankings and a swift advancement to Double-A could be on the horizon.
Gore’s slow start and lack of immediate developmental strides have certainly made the trade easier to swallow for Nats fans, albeit Washington’s own pitching woes have made usable arms even more of a commodity than when he was still in the organization.
With that being said, the Nationals have made it abundantly clear that their eyes are pointed to the future. As they continue their focus on finding projectable assets who can evolve into MLB players capable of fueling an eventual playoff push, the high-flying Fitz-Gerald looks like a major win for the new front office’s talent evaluation and player development programs.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 07: Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of the Chicago Cubs high fives Dansby Swanson #7 after scoring a run against the Cincinnati Reds during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field on May 07, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s out of the frying pan and into the fire for the Atlanta Braves. Despite today being an off-day, they’ll have little time to come down from their big statement series-win in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. They’ll be coming home to welcome in the high-flying Cubs who have also gotten off to a very hot start, themselves.
Following their second high-caliber showdown in as many series, the Braves will enter into a stretch where it’s possible that they won’t be facing a team that’s over .500 until the weekend after Memorial Day. The Braves could have a direct say in that since they’ll be facing the Red Sox twice during that span — the first series of which will be taking place this weekend as the Braves end their brief six-game homestand against Boston. It’ll be a test nonetheless, as the Braves will be looking to keep on rolling with Memorial Day getting closer and closer.
Now it’s time to take a look at what lies ahead for Atlanta as far as the action this week is concerned.
May 12-14: Chicago Cubs
Current Record: 27-14 Projected Record(via FanGraphs): 90-72
Thank goodness for today being an off day, since that means that Chris Sale will be able to pitch in the series finale against the Cubs on regular rest. That’ll be huge for the Braves considering that Grant Holmes, JR Ritchie and the rest of Atlanta’s pitching staff is going to have a serious test on their hands with this Cubs lineup. The good news is that we now know that they can indeed be stopped, as Chicago will be entering this game having dropped a series on the road against the Rangers where they got shut out twice in the final two games.
That only came after the Cubs rattled off their second 10-game winning streak of the season so far. It could just be that the Cubs are monsters at Wrigley Field while being somewhat normal away from home but up until their power outage in Arlington, the Cubs did have one of the best team wRC+ marks on the road. Obviously, we’re all hoping that the Braves can keep the Cubs mired in this current mini-slump that they’re on but it’ll still be a very tough task for this lineup to keep guys like Nico Hoener, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong and old friend Dansby Swanson quiet over the course of this series. Hopefully these guys continue to slumber through their visit to Cobb County.
Meanwhile, Chicago’s pitching staff has done enough to make sure that whatever the offense does doesn’t go up in smoke on any given night. While they’re only just outside of the top 10 of all teams in ERA- and actually pretty low down baseball’s order in terms of FIP-, the Cubs are going to be sending some tough customers to the mound to start for them during this series. Shota Imanaga has mostly been very tough to deal with so far this season and his last outing in particular was a very impressive one where he went six innings with just one run allowed with 10 strikeouts. That was after he pitched seven innings of shutout ball against the Diamondbacks.
With that being said, he has had his occasional blow-ups. The Dodgers got him for five runs (four earned) over 5.1 innings on April 26 and then the Nationals tagged him for four runs over five innings all the way back on March 29. If the Braves can get to Imanaga then maybe that’ll be a good sign for them — even if Ben Brown could be frustratingly effective for the Cubs and Colin Rea could also deliver a solid performance of his own as well.
The Braves are going to have a lot on their plate to pull off another series win but at least this time, they’ll be playing in front of their home fans (though there will surely be plenty of folks clad in Cubbie Blue, like usual) in their own ballpark and maybe that’ll be enough to give the Braves the edge in what’ll surely be a hard-fought series.
Tuesday, May 12 at 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision, TBS (out-of-market only)) Wednesday, May 13 at 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision) Thursday, May 14 at 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision)
May 15-17: Boston Red Sox
Current Record: 17-23 Projected Record: 79-83
Speaking of plenty of folks being clad in the other team’s colors, we’ll probably see that as well once the Red Sox come to town. They won’t be cheering for a team with a winning record once they do arrive, as Boston is currently stuck at the bottom of the AL East and looking to find some sort of way to get things going in the right direction. The good news for Boston is that they are very close to Toronto and Baltimore in the standings, so they could very well be in third place by the time they make it to Atlanta. The bad news for them is that they’re already way behind both the Yankees and the Rays who are currently duking it out at the top of the AL East, so they’ve got a long road to go before they become relevant in the division again this season.
Pitching-wise, the Red Sox have actually been performing at around the same level as the Cubs have — at least according to ERA- and FIP-. Ranger Suarez has been very solid for them so far and they’ve also gotten encouraging results from Payton Tolle and Connelly Early to start the season so far. Arodlis Chapman has once again continued to defy Father Time with his production out of the ‘pen as well, so the Braves will be doing well to make sure that they don’t have to see him too much during this series. This is a perfectly fine pitching staff that’ll be coming to town this weekend and while the Braves may be avoiding Suarez, whoever Boston puts out there won’t be a pushover.
The main problem for Boston has been their hitting (or lack therof). Heading into this week, the Red Sox have a grand total of four (4) regular contributors who have a wRC+ over 100 — Wilyer Abreu (133), Willson Contreras (134), Cedanne Rafaela (104) and Masataka Yoshida (109). That’s it. For comparison’s sake, the Braves have eight regulars with a wRC+ over 100 and if you count Jonah Heim and his 12 games of work while he was with the Braves, it’s nine. If this series turns into a situation where it comes down who can get the most consistent plate production then this should be a series that goes well for the Braves. If it comes down to pitching then things could be much tougher for Atlanta during this series. We’ll see what happens!
Friday, May 15 at 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision, Gray TV) Saturday, May 16 at 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision, Gray TV) Sunday, May 17 at 1:35 p.m. ET (BravesVision, Gray TV)
COVERS INTEL: With Betts out, 
